Tag Archives: self care

A self-care haven you’d love to live in.

I talk a lot about self-care and I will continue to do so because I can’t stress enough the value of a good and consistent self care routine to simply make life that little bit better and easier. Whether that’s small things like having a skin care routine or listening to your favourite song religiously every morning or something bigger like installing a rain forest shower head because you know you deserve it.

There are so many things that we consider when designing our dream space like lighting and making use of small spaces and what we want out entertainment area to look like. For me however, my main focus is how can I make my home work for me in a way that allows me to be my very best for myself and the people around me.

Why is self-care so important?

In today’s fast-paced world, prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining overall well-being and achieving a healthy work-life balance. Self-care encompasses activities and practices that nurture our physical, mental, and emotional health, allowing us to recharge and rejuvenate amidst the demands of daily life. One effective way to integrate self-care into our routines is by creating a home environment that fosters relaxation, comfort, and luxury.

Investing in a home sauna, particularly an infrared sauna, is a worthwhile indulgence that can significantly enhance your self-care routine and overall well-being. An infrared sauna for the home offers a range of health benefits, including stress reduction, relaxation, detoxification, improved circulation, and relief from muscle tension and pain. Having a sauna in your home provides convenient access to these therapeutic benefits whenever you need them, allowing you to prioritize self-care without the hassle of scheduling appointments or traveling to a spa.

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Creating a reading corner in your home is a simple yet impactful way to prioritize self-care and cultivate a space for relaxation, introspection, and intellectual nourishment. This dedicated area provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, allowing you to unwind, recharge, and indulge in the pleasure of reading. Curling up with a good book in your reading corner can help alleviate stress and promote mental well-being. Immersing yourself in a captivating story or informative text allows you to escape momentarily from life’s pressures and worries, providing a much-needed mental break.

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A thoughtfully curated space with cozy bedding, soothing lighting, and calming decor encourages restful sleep and fosters a sense of calm and tranquility. By prioritizing self-care in the bedroom environment, individuals can enhance their overall quality of life, promote better sleep patterns, and cultivate a healthy work-life balance. Creating a bedroom environment conducive to self-care involves thoughtful consideration of bedding, lighting, and art to foster relaxation and rejuvenation and I can’t think of a better start to facing the outside world than this.

By incorporating features into our homes that promote self-care, we can cultivate a sanctuary where we can unwind, indulge, and pamper ourselves regularly. From luxurious spa bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and rainfall showers to cozy reading nooks adorned with plush cushions and soft throws, investing in sumptuous bedding or creating a serene outdoor oasis, designing our homes with self-care in mind ensures that we have the necessary tools and comforts to prioritize our well-being and indulge in moments of luxury and relaxation.

In conclusion, transforming your home into a self-care haven is perhaps one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your overall well-being. I think it’s important to elevate our home spaces into personal retreats where we can escape the stresses of the outside world.Ultimately, by embracing the concept of self-care within your home environment, you are investing in your own happiness, fulfillment, and long-term health, ensuring that you have the space and resources to thrive in every aspect of your life.

Replenishing Your Sense Of Self For The Summer

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Summertime is almost upon us, and for this reason, replenishing your sense of self-worth and your energy levels can be a great way to begin. There’s nothing like greeting the warmer months with a sense of enjoyment and abandon, of recalibrating who we are and feeling renewed in the social experiences and plans we make.

Most of us know that the past couple of years hasn’t been the best start to the new decade, while for many recent bad news has left them feeling fearful, deflated, and unhappy. For this reason, it can be good to take some time out and focus on what we actually love and appreciate, as a means of focusing on the now, of never taking anything for granted, and restoring our energy levels.

This can help us begin to go and enjoy events we really do wish to enjoy, rather than attend out of obligation. It can help us look again to our wardrobe with a sense of confidence and experimentation, rather than thinking ‘you can’t wear that’ as soon as you see an outfit you’re not sure of. Our website is a great place to start with this.

But moreover, it can help you begin to lessen your internal hangups and look at the world around you with a sense of appreciation. That in itself really does make a profound difference in our mood and willingness to try things anew. In this post, we’ll discuss how to replenish your sense of self for the summer – hopefully in the best possible way:

Write A Bucket List For The Summer

Bucket lists tend to be written as a list of everything you wish to do while you still have the time to do it – but there’s no reason to think that this only needs to apply to a lifetime. It can apply to a season, too, and signifies something more humble in that respect.

This way, you might have four or five things you really wish to do. Perhaps they can ascend in terms of importance and joy. At the end of the year, you might know that you’re attending a festival you can’t wait to be part of. Or, perhaps you’re visiting family in another country, or have two weeks next to the beach booked at a beautiful international hotel. 

This way, you can plan your budget and free time around events and fun experiences, attending to everything you need without feeling overly tired about the whole experience. You’ll feel a little more structured this way, and you’ll be able to get friends on board and have them become excited to. You’ll find that attending a few more events or experiences you may not have been able to plan for becomes possible with this kind of effort.

Try A Small Makeover

It can be lovely to try a new makeover if you want one. This way, you feel totally refreshed and newly expressive of who you are this year, and who you hope to become. As the world changes seasons, so can we. Knowing who you are by what you wish to wear, and how you hope to express your style can make a major difference in just how you regard yourself, the self esteem you carry, and the respect you naturally demand.

A small makeover doesn’t have to change you all that much. It might be that you opt for that fantastic arm tattoo you’ve been thinking of for a while, the one of that gorgeous pattern you felt inspired by, or perhaps something that memorializes someone close to you. More and more people are starting to see how tattooing is a beautiful representation of who you are, no matter your legal age or your character type.

For some, learning how to get the perfect light pink hair color or hair highlights can add a textured sense of beauty to their styling. Or, perhaps you could take your fashion into your own hands. To use an example, you might decide to tie-dye some of your t-shirts for that hippie appeal during that upcoming festival. Expressing our style like this is not just a way of looking good, but feeling expressive and artistic.

What Do You Hope To Achieve?

It’s easy to look at the summer and think of it as a set of plans we’ll invest in, allowing us to enjoy ourselves at events, vacations, and social experiences. But it can also be worthwhile to think of our achievements – with a refreshing lens. 

You don’t have to get the best job promotion ever or make a million dollars or run a highly successful YouTube channel in one summer to be productive. It might just be that you try to be a little more grateful and to spend more time with your elderly family members this year. Perhaps you wish to finally move out of your current place and find an apartment that works for you. Perhaps writing a few chapters of a book you’ve wanted to write can be a great idea.

It’s important to recognize that often, the summer is a great time for rejuvenation and renewal in our daily activities. As the woods and forests bloom around us, and the plants explode out of their seeds and radiate with positive color, our own sense of productivity and creativity can thrive. Giving yourself permission to experiment with this might be the best thing you’ve ever done, helping you look to the future with a sense of willingness, rather than a sense of worry.

Who Do You Hope To Experience It With?

Summer is a great time for the deepening of relationships. Perhaps you’ll even decide to put yourself back out there on the dating scene, where you can find romantic love with like minded people willing to express themselves and learn about you sincerely. That in itself can help the entire season take on a sense of excitement that you might not have known for some time.

But also – the summertime is a fantastic place to invest in your social circle, to bond with your relatives more deeply, and to be more grateful for those around you. We should be appreciative that we have the chance to do this – because we never know when our last chance will be.

So – who do you hope to experience your summer with? Maybe your younger sibling is now of legal age and you wish to help them experience their first holiday without your parents by your side, so that they can remain supported and safe despite the new experience. Or, perhaps you hope to plan a summer barbecue with your grandparent, learning something quite new about how they prepare recipes, passing down family traditions in the best possible way.

When we invest in those around us, we tend to become more and more loving and bonded to them. It’s hard to forget a wonderful summer you spent with people you love. That’s what we’re all here for, right?

A Creative Endeavor

Blossoming your sense of self and rejuvenating your perspective is often achieved through our creativity. Creative energy is often something that, like a flower, needs to be watered and cared for. If you can do that, then it will bloom and gain powerful momentum.

Inspiring ourselves through this approach can be wonderful. Taking a pottery class or a drawing class, taking photography up so you can hike around and gaze at the scenery, or simply learning photo editing with your laptop in your back garden, all of these things can help you expand your creative skillset which may even translate to professional work.

The summer is a great time to do this, because going outside and enjoying the world around us is something that fosters our creative spirit more than staying in and looking at a computer, shielding from the rain and blizzards outside during winter. Creativity can give us energy rather than take it away, and more than that, we can share it with people we love.

The Year Of The Recipe

Summer is a great time for new recipes and light food. We can enjoy new cuisine this year, from better seafood to using our own coffee recipe with amazing beans we import. You might even decide to throw a dining party for those you care about, or perhaps even your boss if you’re trying to court something of a promotion.

Why not use this summer to challenge your cooking skills? It might even be that you use the beauty of the warm season to try a new diet, like a vegan lifestyle, seeing how far you can get with meat substitutes. Or, perhaps you’ll try and juice more this year, getting all of your awesome vitamins and minerals in each morning. 

After a summer of refining our cooking talent, you can bet that the autumn and winter season will be populated with delectable treats and even more authority in the kitchen.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily replenish your sense of self for the summer, and benefit as a result. Who knows just how much fun, and how much insight you could yield from your approach?

Why A Smile Is All You Need

There is something that is life-affirming about smiling. It is such a simple thing but has the power to change how we feel and how people around us feel too. A smile can put people at ease, make them feel better, or be a short way to engage. 

There are many studies on how smiling impacts how we perceive people and how they perceive us too.

In a study, 88% of people polled said that they would remember someone who had an attractive smile, and 92% of them said that an attractive smile is one of the most important social assets.

You can never underestimate the power of a great smile, how powerful it can be in everyday life and your working environment.

The great thing about smiling is, your smile doesn’t need to be perfect; you just have to love it. Most people wish their smile was a little whiter, brighter and straighter! Luckily all those things are possible – you can get great whitening toothpaste and check out ALIGNERCO results

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Photo by Wyron A on Unsplash

But what are the benefits of having a great smile?

Contagious 

As we go about our daily lives, we never know what other people are going through. For a few passing moments, you can give a smile to a stranger and usually, they will provide you with a smile in return. 

That simple act of sharing a small smile between strangers can pass on for the rest of the day. Not everyone will automatically smile when you smile at them, but most people do.

And then, more than likely, they’ll smile at someone and someone else while at someone else. And it will carry on throughout the day. And that smile started with you.

Typically when you’re around positive, happy people, you tend also to take that mindset on yourself. Although we can’t be positive, happy and smiling all the time, the more often you do it, the more contagious it becomes.

Stress reduction

The most significant benefits of smiling are that when we smile, our body releases a massive amount of endorphins, and the more you do it, the more you get. These endorphins, when you smile, even if it’s a fake smile, can help your mood become better by reducing your stress levels.

It’s not just about your stress levels either; once your body becomes flooded by these happy hormones, including serotonin, this can also help reduce your blood pressure. Both of those things combined can help you to feel happier and healthier.

Real beauty

Beauty is about how we feel about ourselves; although there are societal versions of love, beauty is they are now changing. One study showed that people found a simple smile more attractive than having a full face of makeup.

Of course, it is up to you to decide how you feel beautiful but whatever you do, make sure your smile is part of it.

A smile is part of our arsenal of things that can help us feel great; here are some others: Boost Your Confidence: Tips to Help You Feel Good About Yourself | U Can’t Wear That! 

 

Why It’s So Important To Look After Your Skin

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Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay 

Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? It’s not just a nice shell to keep your body warm either, but your skin actually works hard every day to protect your body. It is continually growing, and old cells die, and new ones are being created, and everything you do affects your skin. The food you eat, the amount of water you drink, if you smoke, how much sleep you get, the moisturizer you use, and what you wear all have an effect on your skin and can make or break it. How do you look after your skin and protect the largest organ in your body? And why is it so important?

Your Skin Protects The Rest Of Your Body

Whatever you do, whatever products you use, remember that looking after your skin isn’t just about looking nice, but good skin treatment is essential because your skin is the largest barrier against infection that you have. Keeping your skin healthy and moist helps keep it strong, which is what you need for any barrier. When your skin is healthy, it heals quicker, too, so it doesn’t take long to get back to normal if something does happen to it. One way your skin works, though, is to shed itself daily, so caring for it on one day isn’t good enough because this skin will shed tomorrow so, you need to care for it every day so that you don’t end up with dull and lifeless skin.

It’s Easier To Prevent Skin Problems Than To Cure Them

Do you know the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’? Well, this is certainly true when it comes to your skin. You should make a point of taking time to get a good skincare routine as this will be far quicker and cheaper than having to see dermatologists or address skin issues as a result of neglect down the line.

How You Care For Your Skin Now Matters For The Future

How you care for your skin now will determine how your skin will look in ten or twenty years. Unfortunately, the skin is one of the tell-tale signs of aging, and this is something that people worry about as they get older. It’s not just about how it looks though, like anything, you should take care of it as it gets older. Make sure that you use skincare products that are made for your skin type, and never use anything too aggressive or harsh on your skin. 

Your Skin Can Make You Feel Good

What’s that saying? ‘Love the skin you’re in?’ It’s a good one and totally relevant. Be kind to your skin and love it because it’s the only one you’re going to get, and when you look good, you feel good too. Having great skin can be a huge factor in boosting your self-confidence and as your face is the first thing people notice about you when they see you, make sure you focus on looking after it as best you can. Healthy skin will make you feel good, and when you feel good, life will be good too. 

Get a free skin treatment consultation
 
Not sure how to best look after your skin? The experts live and breathe this science. They know how to make your skin glow, how to make you look more refreshed, more energetic and years younger. To find out what’s best for you, you can book a free skincare consultation with award-winning specialists at the New York Laser Clinic in London. From skin peels to micro needling, the right treatment can target signs of ageing, even out your skin tone and help you rediscover your youthful glow.

 

 

Give Yourself a Makeover on a Budget

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Image Courtesy of Pexels

As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us may not be looking our best. Therefore, some cosmetic pampering might be in order. However, now is an expensive time with the holidays coming up, and you may not have been able to work as much lately. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to give yourself a makeover on a budget with some simple style tips. 

Stock Up on Cosmetics

Cosmetics such as body lotions and makeup are essential parts of a makeover bag. With Christmas just around the corner, now is an excellent time to stock up on your cosmetic essentials. Department stores typically offer 2-for-1 deals on many top brand foundations, lipsticks and bronzers during the holiday season. Additionally, you can take advantage of multi-item gift sets that typically offer multiple products at a significantly reduced price.

A Hollywood Smile

Unfortunately, over 50% of people don’t like their teeth, yet a good smile is a social convention required for many situations. Job interviews, parties and family photos are some of the situations where you may become self-conscious about your teeth. Fortunately, cosmetic dental treatments are easy to come by, and most are affordable. Some of the most common include:

  • Teeth whitening products
  • Clip-on veneers
  • Composite bonding

These are all excellent methods of improving your smile. But the most effective is with alignment treatment. Braces are standard for younger people. But the social stigma attached to adult braces makes a case for invisible braces such as Invisalign and Clear X.  

Buy Out of Season Fashion

Like taking advantage of holiday deals for cosmetics, you can save a lot of money by buying your fashion out of season. Stores like TK Maxx offer high-end fashion from the likes of Armani and Ralph Lauren at a significantly reduced price. You may have to look a little harder as you shop, but you are guaranteed to find something stunning sooner or later. And the savings you make will leave a massive smile on your face. For example, finding an affordable luxury handbag with 70% off the RRP isn’t uncommon.

Get a Trainee Hair Style

In addition to your smile, your hairstyle is one of the first things someone will notice. Therefore, you may be very self-conscious when it comes to your hairdo. However, a professional hair treatment can be expensive. So much so that it just isn’t affordable most of the time. Fortunately, almost all expert stylists offer free or significantly reduced hairstyling if you allow a trainee or student to style your hair. While they might be unqualified, trainees are usually assisted by a professional. As a result, they are good enough to style your hair adequately, although it can be a gamble.

DIY Manicure and Nails

There’s nothing much more glamorous than a nifty set of nails. Shiny, colourful and stylish, a lacquered manicure just makes you feel great. Yet, the average price of getting your manicure each month can really add up. While there’s no substitute for a perfectly pristine set of glossies, you can save a little by doing your own nails in between professional visits. Further to home manicure kits for filing and shaping, some of the best nail gel kits are affordable and easy to use.

 

5 Ways to Embrace Who You Are and Love Yourself

There can be so many ways that we can feel like we aren’t good enough. We may feel that we have imposter syndrome, that we don’t deserve to be where we are in the workplace or who we are friends with. We can feel unsure of living life as authentically as we want to be, for fear of judgment and criticism of others. However, learning to love yourself is something that is so important, as well as embracing who you are. 

If you find yourself feeling like this, then it is important to take some steps to help. Your life can change dramatically when you love yourself, trust yourself, and can fully embrace yourself for who you are. There are podcasts, blogs, and books that can help, but here are some things that could get you started.

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Embrace being a work in progress

We can all put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect. But we can waste so much time and energy with this, as it isn’t something that is realistic. We aren’t perfect, that is a fact, so embrace being a work in progress and you’ll have a much happier life. Pick yourself back up if things aren’t going your way, and learn from mistakes that are made. 

 

Change things you can change

By embracing who you are, you may want to change some aspects in your life. It might be time to break up from a toxic relationship or friendship, in order to really feel free, true to yourself, and live life in the best way that you can. There may be some other aspects in your life that you want to change, such as a haircut, trying something that you’ve always wanted to, like getting silicone plugs for ears, or trying a new style of clothing. If you want to embrace yourself and love yourself, then there are definitely some small and simple ways that can get you in the right headspace to do just that.

Let go of what is out of your control

If you put a lot of pressure on yourself to say the right things and do the right things for the people around you, then it is a big weight to carry. You shouldn’t be taking a burden like that yourself, especially if your happiness comes at the expense of someone else. You can only be responsible for yourself and your own actions, not those of others. It can be a hard thing to do, but if you start to focus more of your time and energy on helping yourself to live in a way that reflects your own personal values, rather than trying to control that of other people, it can make a big difference in your life. 

Allow time for fun and enjoyment

It can be easy to feel guilty if you take some time out to do something fun. After all, there are always other things that you can be doing from a never-ending to-do list. The thing with hard work and sacrifice is that it isn’t something that has to take over your life. If you want to live life to the fullest and embrace who you are, then you need to take time for fun, and not wait until you think that you deserve it. So put aside some time in your schedule to do something that you really enjoy. It could be exercise, walking, crafts, singing, reading, or a range of other activities. Having fun and enjoying life can give you a rest and help to energize you, but it will also remind you that you are worthy of self-care and looking after yourself; you’re not an afterthought. 

Be vulnerable with others

If you dislike yourself, then it can be an easy excuse to stay away from others. You may only try to show a version of yourself that you think they are going to accept. Rejection and fear of that can be hard, especially if you think you’ll be on your own if they accept you for who you are. 

Letting someone else see what bothers you, lifts you up, fears that you have, or what can disappoint you, can be hard. Although we are all human, it can be hard to let others know that we are, if that makes sense? Not showing off vulnerability can be hard, especially if you hate yourself. You’ll just think that they will too.

Small things can make a difference in how you see yourself, and help you to really embrace who you are. It can be a long road for some, but definitely worth it.

4 Brilliant Ways To Improve Your Lack of Confidence

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Image Credit 

Most people have their confidence to thank for how successful they are. But a few others are still in the dark on how to gain confidence. Building confidence can be quite tricky because everyone is unique, and different things contribute to self-confidence.

If you can manage to build and maintain self-confidence, you stand to gain a lot in life. For one, confidence can make you feel and look sexy. It can also help you influence others, impact executive skills, and feel valued.

If you’ve tried self-help ideas to build your confidence, but they didn’t work, there’s no need to worry! Here are brilliant ways to work and develop your self-confidence effortlessly.

Start a Hobby

Everyone has a hobby or a talent. However, if you are genuinely passionate about something, you should commit all your energy to it.

It could be that you are an excellent swimmer, cheerleader, singer, or dancer, or great at photography. Wherever your interests lie, it would be best to enhance such skills to build your confidence. 

Besides, having a hobby will help you develop valuable skills in your professional and personal life as they are a form of self-care. If you take care of yourself and are proud of your skills, you are more likely to feel confident.

Take Care of Your Body

Most confident people have their bodies to thank. So, if you want to improve your lack of confidence, it would be best to take care of your body the best way you can. And there is no limit to what you can do to look after your body.

Foremost, don’t skimp on sleep. Secondly, make meditation or self care a habit. Finally, you can also exercise if you want to improve your flexibilityand stamina.  

Perhaps, most importantly, dress to kill. While shopping for clothes, take advantage of sales and discounts such as knitwear sale if you want to save a few coins.

Look After Your Skin

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. Therefore, it is vital to indulge in good skincare routines. Furthermore, having great skin can improve your confidence since it resonates with positivity and beauty.

Find ways to take care of your skin the right way. Knowing your skin type would be a great start to help you identify what products to use. 

You should also drink water to boost your skin’s appearance. Water can reduce wrinkles, prevent acne and pimples, balance the skin’s pH, and help retain moisture.

Look at Your Achievements

Lastly, there is no better way to improve your lack of self-confidence than looking at your achievements. Everyone has something they can be proud of in their life, no matter how trivial it is.

You can quickly lose your self-esteem and confidence if you feel like you have never achieved anything in life. Therefore, create a list of things you are proud of doing to boost your confidence.
The above tips can work their magic in boosting your self-confidence. So be sure to apply them, and you will not regret it at all!

 

Fun ways to incorporate exercise even when you hate it

Are you making an effort to be more active? If yes then this is for you…

I am an advocate for doing what makes you feel good , whether that is putting on a pretty dress, chucking on some lippie, going out for a walk to get some air and stretch your legs or going to the local diner for a burger.

There’s overwhelming evidence that leading an active lifestyle can help to reduce the chances of illnesses in later life, as well as giving you more energy so at 34 (nearly 35) I’m hoping I can make a small difference and trying to be a but more active.

Up until about a week ago the amount of exercise I was doing outside of living every day life was zero and as I’m getting but older I’m starting to feel like my body is struggling more so I have started adding extra walking into my routine just get my body moving a bit more.

The recommended amount of exercise is dependant on the individual, but you’ll be able to feel a difference by just doing more than you are now, again if exercise is something you are trying to do more of then an increase in any activity will make a difference. I think fun activities alone or with the family make exercise more bearable and something to look forward to.

I recently found a beautiful park not too far from where I live that is perfect for me to walk in as it has a lot to look at so I don’t get bored.
If you don’t have the time to schedule vigorous exercise into your day, there are some easy ways to incorporate more movement into your day.

Most of us have smart phones now and carry them with us throughout the day. So monitoring your steps and making it a light hearted competition between friends or family can be a fun way to increase exercise with feeling like it’s being forced on you. I like to keep track of my steps because I personally need to see improvement so I don’t feel like I’m doing all this for nothing.

Getting off the bus a stop or two early to get some extra steps in or even walking instead of taking the bus, especially when the weather is as nice as it is now is also a really good way of adding more movement in without designated exercises. Riding a bike to work or going out for bike rides alone or with the kids or friends can be a really fun way to get moving.

Activities with your children will always be more fun than feeling like a chore so it’s a great way to be more active and if your children love the outdoors then you’re already half way there. I always thought adding exercise into my life would be torturous and feel like I’m forcing myself so I’m trying really hard to make it fun so it’s something that will fit into life neatly and be sustainable.

I am all for being exactly how you want to be and doing as much or as little activity as you want. I go through phases of wanting to be more active and then not wanting to do anything at all. At the moment I’m just trying to move my body more because it feels like it needs it.

Simple ways to pamper yourself.

Simple Ways to Pamper Yourself

Why is it that lots of women look at self-love and self-care as being selfish? Why do they fill the need to continue to put others before themselves? It’s admirable to want to be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and employee to accommodate the needs and desires of others. Yet, at what point do you stop and take care of yourself? When do you find the time to reward yourself for the amazing job you do?

The truth is, you work hard every day and you deserve to reward yourself. Pampering yourself isn’t selfish. When you learn to find ways to make yourself feel good from the inside out, you are essentially making yourself better for those you know and love. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or move a lot of mountains to pamper yourself either. Here are a few ways to start:

 Take a Hot Bath

There’s nothing like a nice hot bath to really relax the mind and body. Map out some time on the weekend to take a bath. You can set the tone by adding Epsom salt and essential oils to the water. Light a few candles, throw on your favorite slow jam playlist and just bask at the moment. Taking care of your body is a huge part of self care from a whole body scrub down to small things like getting your ears professionally cleaned. You can get treatments that make a world of difference at Auris Ear Care.

 Get a Massage

Everyone thinks that massages are expensive luxuries that the average joe couldn’t afford. The truth is, however, they’re not that expensive at all. Though you may not be able to afford one every day, you can treat yourself on a monthly basis to a massage. Sitting on those comfortable spa tables as the therapist works their magic will bring you back to life.

 Buy a Sweet Treat

If you have a bit of a sweet tooth you can treat yourself to some dessert. Whether you grab some ice cream on your lunch break or bake chocolate chip cookies at home, just indulge in something sweet that makes you smile from the inside out.

 Binge Weekend

You’re so busy all week that keeping up with your favorite shows and movies is impossible. The weekends are the perfect time to catch up. You can buy your favorite snacks and snuggle up in your most comfortable PJs and watch all the series and movies you’d like. If you can spring for it, reserve a nearby hotel room for the weekend so you don’t have the distraction of the kids, pets, and rest of the house while you relax.

 Buy Some New Lingerie

Now here’s a great way to pamper yourself while also boosting your confidence – buying lingerie. Choose something that makes you feel sexy and attractive. Then, spend the day lounging around your bedroom in your new set.

 Give Yourself a Mani and Pedi

You don’t have to go to the salon to get a decent manicure and pedicure. You can pamper yourself at home with just a few supplies. You’ll need some nail polish, top coat, remover, and a large tub of warm water and soap to soak your feet and hands.

There’s nothing wrong with looking after yourself and giving yourself some extra love and attention. You work hard for it and do so much for the people in your lives. You deserve to do something that makes you feel good. Start doing some of these things for yourself on a regular basis and reap the benefits of an improved mind, body, and spirit.  

Self care – Growing your own garden

Here on my blog I’ve been talking about self care a lot recently because I think it’s so important and it’s been helping me a lot. I practice self care in many ways and some of those things wouldn’t be considered self care by other people but it’s just what I need. Sometimes I lock myself up in my room with a fantasy book and a warm blanket because the outside world is a bit too much. Sometimes I leave all my work unfinished and go to the park and walk by the stream because I like the sound and the sun on my face. There are so many ways to carve out a little time for yourself when you need it even if it seems a little indulgent or selfish you have to remind yourself that you’re important and so is your mental health.

Since moving up to the Midlands from London I now have a large garden and it’s a huge change from the concrete slabs we called a garden where I lived in Central London. At first I found it a little overwhelming because I’ve never had to care for a garden before or even have a conversation with a gardener, but now we have a little routine with a local gardener and things run smoothly and the garden looks lush but there are no flowers or plants it’s just well maintained grass. When I’m out in the park I always appreciate the flowers and its made me consider creating a small area in my garden to grow things in. I’m not even sure what I’d like to grow but the thought of creating something out of nothing and it being all mine sounds amazing and the time alone with nature sounds a lot like self care to me.

I’m not crazy I don’t plan on turning my entire garden into a landscapers dream I just want a few little things that I can tend to a watch flourish. I have a lot to learn about what things need what kind of care and what grows best when so I’ve been taking notice of advice like the image below from trago to give me an idea of when is the best time of year to get started for the best chances of success. I think herbs would be a good place to start as I get to grow something and then actually put it use when cooking. Think I’d feel a bit like a hunter gatherer lol and that’s pretty cool.

Trago_Herbs_Infographic_v2

Do any of you have herb Gardens and any suggestions for me? Ideally something that would be good for a beginner.